Carton opener



Au 23, 1938. A L R 2,128,151

\ CARTON OPENER Filed June 22, 1957 I 145i Jiwie,

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates in general to cutting devices, and in particular to a simplified carton opener.

With the widespread use of paper cartons both large and small in recent years, various devices for opening the cartons have been devised so as to accomplish the opening quickly and in a manner so that the contents of the carton are not injured. The prior art devices, however, for

10 opening cartons are complicated, in general, ex-

pensive, and so constructed that the cutting or knife portions thereof are not readily adjusted for cartons having paper of different thicknesses and hence do not open all cartons satisfacl; torily. Furthermore, because of this lack of adaptability, some of the prior art devices may cause injury to the contents of the carton when using them on a carton for which the device was not particularly designed. With these disgo' advantages, and because of a high selling price for the devices as a result of the complexity of the same, the distribution and use of the articles has been considerably retarded.

It is an object of my invention to provide an 25, improved carton opener.

A further object is to provide a sturdy structure capable of standing up under the Worst possible abuse, and wear and readily adjustable by any operator to adapt the opener to different 3 types of cartons and difierent thicknesses of cardboard or corrugated paper in the cartons.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an extremely simple carton opener which can be sold at a price so low as to make it attractive to the housewife as well as the large user of paper cartons, and thus obtain widespread use of the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken from the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete carton opener of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the carton opener from the side appearing as the upper side in the position illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

50 In practicing my invention I provide a stampedout one-piece metal member having a guideway at the upper portion thereof, a substantially tubular hand grip portion at the bottom thereof, and webs or extensions from the hand grip portion,

55 and intermediate the guideway at the upper portion, to form a separated throat portion to receive a cutting blade. Within the throat portion I provide an apertured recessed portion ex tending diagonally through one web and a corresponding apertured projecting portion through the other web to receive the cutting knife therebetween and by means of a clamping unit extending entirely through the apertures in the webs, firmly but adjustably clamp the blade therein. 10

Fig. 1 illustrates the complete carton opener including the one piece substantially U-shaped member ID, including a cylindrical or tubular handle I I split at the one side and extending upwardly therefrom in a pair of corresponding webs or extensions l2 and I3 to form a clamping throat or channel for the cutting knife. A. guideway with guide portions l4 and I5 is provided on top of the clamping extensions and integral therewith. The body portion I0 is stamped from sheet metal which has substantial rigidity yet sufficient resiliency so that the twoclamping extensions I2 and I3 are under tension as a result of the tubular handle construction, and when the clamping pressure is 2.) removed from these portions they spring apart in the usual manner to permit movement of the cutting knife.

The cutting operation on a paper carton is accomplished with a knife blade ll clamped be- 110 tween the extensions l2 and I3 at an inclined or diagonally extending formedrecess l8 in the wall l2. The recess I8 is preferably of a width corresponding approximately to the width of the knife blade ll. A correspondingly inclined projecting portion I9 is formed in the opposite wall or extension so as to bear against the blade I1 and seat in the recess. as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

The blade I! is adjustably retained in the 4.0 clamping portion by means of a clamping assembly comprising a bolt 2| having a square shank portion 22 of such a length as to extend completely through an elongated aperture 23 in the recess l8 inclined to correspond with such recess, and through a corresponding aperture 24 in the projecting portion [9. The threaded portion of the bolt carries a thumb screw 26 in the usual manner. A washer 21 is carried intermediate the bolt head and the portion M3 for its usual bearing function and also to act as a support for the recess. A.pair of ordinary washers 28 and 29, with the former having a larger aperture than the latter as shown in Fig. 3 so as to progressively fit over the portions of the bolt shank, are carried under the thumb screw 26.

With the square shank portion 22 extending completely through the two rectangular apertures 23 and 24 and similarly through a square aperture 3| in the blade, the bolt 2] is prevented from turning, and the blade H is prevented from turning on the bolt itself. Furthermore, the aperture Si is provided off center transversely of the blade and nearest the cutting edge, so that the maximum clamping pressure, which pressure is of course between the thumb screw and bolt head, is applied as near the cutting edge as possible where the greatest strain is exerted on the blade in the cutting operation. Of course, the recessed and projecting portions I8 and 19 also cooperate to prevent the blade I! from rotating in the clamping channel or throat, and with the blade bearing at its rear edge against the wall 32 of the recess IS, a very rigid mounting for such blade is accomplished.

Before using the carton opener, the thumb screw 36 may be loosened until the bolt 2| carrying the blade will slide readily in the rectangular slots 23 and 24. It is possible to hold the handle portion in one hand and, operating the thumb screw and bolt in the other hand, move the blade to any desired adjustment, and carefully measure the projecting portion of the blade with ones eye during the adjusting movement. Tightening the thumb screw 26 on to the bolt 2| pulls the two clamping extensions !2 and [3 together to clamp and retain the blade in the desired position. The horizontal flange 33 intermediate the blade I! and the vertical guide flange I is of a width to correspond, on an average, to the paper top of a carton. A very satisfactory width for this has been found to be 3 of an inch. With the vertical flange I5, that is vertical as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, lying on the top of a carton, the cutting edge C of the blade I! is pressed into the side wall of the carton, and then with the guide flange l4 bearing against the outside wall of the carton, the opener is pulled along with the blade cutting the side Wall as can be readily understood. With the finite adjustment possible on the cutting blade there will be no danger that the blade will extend into the carton far enough to injure the contents, and with only the thumb screw 26 to operate to be sure that the blade is rigidly retained in the clamping portion of the device, there is no danger of a complex multitude of parts becoming loose or out of position so as to in any way interfere with the cutting operation. The guide flange M has sharp scraping edges at the outer edges thereof to scrape off labels or the like if desired, after completing the cutting operation. The fact that practically the entire device is furnished in stamped out metal members, and the fact that there are relatively so few parts, makes it possible to produce the device very cheaply to permit a low selling price, and thus provide large potential distribution.

Although I have illustrated and described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereby, but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton opener including a pair of adjacent but separated corresponding walls, each having a carton engaging flange at one edge thereof, an apertured cutting blade adjustably carried intermediate said walls for movement to vary the cutting length of the blade beyond said flanges, each wall having a correspondingly positioned slot therein and with at least one of said slots being rectangular in shape, a shanked clamping bolt extending through the slots in said Walls and through the aperture in said blade, with the shank of said bolt and the aperture in said blade each of such shape as to cause one to be non-rotatable with respect to the other in blade cutting and blade adjusting positions, and Wtih such bolt shank shape acting to prevent rotation of the bolt in said rectangular slot but permitting movement of the bolt lengthwise in the slot to move said blade therewith.

2. A carton opener including a handle portion, a pair of adjacent clamping walls extending therefrom having a cutting-blade seat defined by corresponding reshaped portions in said pair of walls, with said seat extending diagonally in said walls, a guide flange extending laterally from each wall at a side edge opposite to the handle portion, a cutting blade carried between said walls at said seat with each of said clamping walls having a rectangular aperture therein at the clamping seat portion thereof extending at an angle with the guide flanges corresponding to the angle of the seat portion therewith, and with said cutting blade having a square aperture substantially centrally thereof, and a clamping bolt extending through said apertures having a square shank portion thereon to prevent rotation of the bolt in the rectangular apertures of the seat portions but permit movement over the length of said apertures, and fitting in said square aperture of the cutting blade and acting to prevent rotation of the blade on the shank.

3. A carton opener including in combination a one-piece handle and blade carrying member having guide flanges for engagement with a carton surface, with the blade carrying portion of said member comprising two adjacent corresponding walls having a reshaped seat portion in said walls disposed diagonally with said guide flanges, an apertured cutting blade carried in said seat portion, a shanked clamping bolt in said aperture with the aperture and shank of said bolt each of such shape as to prevent rotation one with respect to the other, said seat portion in said Walls having a slot lengthwise thereof for receiving the shank of the bolt and being of such shape as to prevent rotation of the bolt therein when the blade carrying portion of said member is in clamped operating position.

AUGUST J. LURIE. 

